Profile: Nome’s Judge Ben Esch Retires

Superior Court Judge, Ben Esch, has retired after 17 years of service in Nome. Esch was appointed in 1996 by then Governor Tony Knowles.

Esch grew up in the Midwest in Illinois – in a town he says is about the same size as Nome. He graduated college with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and while working with a large company dealing with water pollution, he decided to find other avenues to utilize science degree. Eventually, Esch chose to pursue an interest in patent law and decided to go to law school.

Listen here to learn how law school brought Esch to Alaska and to Nome’s Superior Court Judge position.